Hinged Reservoir Pump Layout for Left-Right Handlebar Mounting

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle hydraulic pumps for clutches and brakes require separate designs for the right and left sides of the handlebar, leading to increased costs and complexity.

Innovation Solution

A pump design with a hingedly mounted reservoir that can be positioned in two orientations, allowing the same pump to be used on either the right or left side of the vehicle handlebar, featuring a movable piston and a reservoir with a push button for actuation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If separate pumps are designed for the right and left sides of the handlebar, then the pump can be specifically optimized for each side, but the production cost and device complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepump performance optimizationVSAvoidnumber of pump variants
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pump housing is designed with a universal structure that can accommodate the reservoir in two different orientations (right side and left side). The reservoir is mounted via a bracket that allows rotation between positions, enabling a single pump design to serve both sides of the handlebar, thus reducing the number of pump variants while maintaining side-specific optimization

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The reservoir mounting bracket incorporates a rotation mechanism that allows the reservoir to be dynamically repositioned between right-side and left-side orientations. This dynamic adjustment capability enables a single static pump housing to support dynamic configuration changes, eliminating the need for separate right and left pump designs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If separate pumps are designed for the right and left sides, then side-specific requirements are met, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveside-specific pump performanceVSAvoidproduction cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

By designing a universal pump housing that can accommodate the reservoir in either orientation, the manufacturer produces only one type of pump housing instead of two separate variants. This universality reduces tooling costs, simplifies inventory management, and lowers per-unit manufacturing costs while still meeting side-specific performance requirements through the adjustable reservoir positioning

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Device complexity

If the reservoir is fixed in one position, then the pump structure is simpler, but the pump cannot be used on both sides of the handlebar

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereservoir mounting structureVSAvoidpump side compatibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The reservoir mounting bracket is designed with rotational capability, transforming the static fixed-position mounting into a dynamic adjustable mounting. This allows the reservoir to be repositioned between right-side and left-side orientations, granting the pump versatility for both sides while adding only minimal rotational mechanism complexity to the mounting structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables the same pump to be mounted on either side of the handlebar with improved operation, reduced production costs, and simplified assembly, while facilitating rapid reloading and bleeding processes.

Implementation Method 1

the reservoir is hingedly mounted with respect to the housing of the piston, being positionable in at least a first or a second position

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHinge: Hinge

Implementation Method 2

a reservoir in which a fluid is housed that drives the piston movement inside the housing

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydraulic: Hydraulic Press

Data Source

PatentEP4640505A1Pump for vehicle clutches or brakes
Publication Date: 2025.10.29 XIU RDI
  • EP4640505A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4640505A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4640505A1 patent drawing

AI summary

The pump for vehicle clutches or brakes comprises a piston (1) movable inside a housing (2); and a reservoir (3) in which a fluid is housed to drive the movement of the piston (1) inside the housing (2), wherein the reservoir (3) is hingedly mounted with respect to the housing (2) of the piston (1), being positionable at least in a first or second position. It provides a pump for vehicle clutches or brakes that can be used on either the right or left side of the vehicle.